Commuter Rail Fares and Passes

Commuter Rail fares are based on a "Zone" and "Interzone" system with Zone 1A servicing the Greater Boston area and Zones 1 through 10 servicing communities and suburban areas outside of Boston. Each Commuter Rail station's zone is identified in the chart below.

Zone Fares

"Zone fares" are intended for direct travel between any suburban area commuter rail station to a Zone 1A station and the Greater Boston area, including North Station, South Station, and Back Bay. Your fare or pass is based on the Zone from which you are travelling.

For example, if your commute includes boarding the Lowell Line at Lowell Station (Zone 6) and getting off the train at North Station (Zone 1A), you would buy one single ride Zone 6 ticket.

Interzone Fares

"Interzone fares" are intended for travel between suburban area stations outside of the Zone 1A Greater Boston area. Interzone fares and passes are NOT valid for travel to Zone 1A stations, including North Station, South Station, and Back Bay. Interzone monthly pass and ticket fares are based on TOTAL zones "travelled" in.

For example, if your commute includes boarding the Lowell Line at Lowell Station (Zone 6) and getting off the train at Anderson/Woburn Station (Zone 2), you would pass through three zones and would buy one single ride Interzone 5 ticket.

Effective July 1, 2012, Commuter Rail tickets will have the following expiration periods:

All 10-ride tickets will be sold with an expiration time limit of ninety (90) days.

Single ride tickets will be sold with an expiration time limit of ninety (90) days.

Commuter Rail Zone Chart

1 10-Ride passes cannot be bought online.2 A $3.00 surcharge wil be added to tickets purchased on-board all trains departing from North Station, South Station, and Back Bay Station. Monday-through-Friday customers will be charged $3.00 surcharge by the conductor when a ticket is purchased on board from a station with an MBTA ticket vending machine or where a Ticket Vendor is open. A list of these stations can be found on the MBTA website here: http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/sales_locations/3 Zone passes valid on Local Bus, Subway, and Inner Harbor Ferries.4 Zone passes valid on Local Bus, Subway, Express Bus, and Inner Harbor Ferries.5 Zone passes valid on Local Bus, Subway, Express Bus, Inner Harbor Ferries, and Commuter Boat.6 Interzone passes valid on Local bus.7 Interzone tickets and passes are not available on our automated ticket vending machines. Interzone tickets and passes are sold on our mTicketing app, at ticket sales offices, at retail sales outlets, and passes are sold online. A list of sales locations can be found here: http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/sales_locations/